All that I Want

Ugly Threats

I slide the hoodie back on over my shoulders, still trying to catch my breath even though Chase and I didn't go all the way this time. I blame it on my damn period.
He smirks down at me once I curl into him and lay my head on his chest, facing the wall. "You're really good at that," I breathe out.
He cracks a smile, "I think you'll find I'm good at a lot of things," he says cheekily.
My entire body tenses as I hear my bedroom door open behind me and my mom's voice follows soon after, "dinner's going to be ready in like five minutes."
I don't respond to her, and Chase takes the hint not to acknowledge her as well. After a moment, she takes the hint and leaves, closing the door behind her.
"She's right, you know," I whisper once I know she's downstairs.
"How's that?" He asks gently.
"I shouldn't have went out looking like that. I need makeup to be pretty..." my voice trails off. That's what mom has always thought and told me.
"Bull shit," he says forcefully. "Don't ever say that again."
I sigh, "but it's true, Chase. I'm ugly without it."
"Say it one more time," he threatens, "and I'm going to tickle you."
I say in a small voice, "I am ugly."
"That's it," he leans up and starts tickling any body part he can get to, knowing I'm ticklish just about everywhere.
I squirm under his fingers and try to fight the laughter trying to escape my lips, "Chase, stop."
"No, I warned you and you disregarded it. Now, you're going to be tickled." He continues to tickle me and the laughter escapes my mouth full force without my consent.
Finally, I'm able to grab both of his wrists and pin them over his head as I straddle his hips.
"Ha, I win," I say triumphantly, trying to catch my breath.
In the blink of an eye, he has us flipped over and my hands are pinned above my head.
"Think again," he smirks.
He lets go of my wrists and cups my face in between his hands, "you do not need makeup, y/n. You are beautiful, gorgeous, and sexy all on your own. You're perfect, and you're not allowed to think anything less of yourself."
"My mom has always looked up to makeup, she's always tried to get me to wear it since the sixth grade. Freshman year, I finally gave in, but I would only wear natural looking makeup so it wouldn't be that noticeable." I take a breath before continuing in an even smaller voice, "when she found out I had a crush on you, she basically told me that the only way you'd notice me in that way was if I wore makeup that wasn't natural looking."
I sigh and finally look him in the eyes, "it's what's been ingrained in my brain, Chase. With you, sometimes it's easy to forget, especially days like today, but she always finds a way to remind me."
I can see the anger flash through his eyes as he takes in everything I just said, "she's the reason? For this bullshit?"
I merely nod my head, not being able to say it out loud again.
"I think her and I need to have a little talk," he says and starts to get off of me.
"Don't," I put my hand on his arm to stop him from moving. "It's not worth it, and it's not going to do any good. She's not going to change."
"You forget I'm a vampire, I can compel her to change, to treat you like the beautiful daughter you are. You don't need makeup," he huffs but he stays where he's at.
I shake my head sadly, "it's not worth it. She's not worth it."
He sighs before he lays down on top of me and buries his head into my neck, "I'm sorry," he whispers against my skin.
"It's okay," I whisper and run my fingers through his hair, "I've learned to deal with it." I flash back to what Charli messaged me, but know not to bring it up. He doesn't need to know about it before going on tour.
I sigh, "at least for the most part."
He rolls off of me and pulls me into his side, kissing my head, "you know I'm here, right? Whenever you need to talk, I'm here. It doesn't matter what it is or what time it is."
"I know," I nod my head, "and I appreciate that." There's just some things I'm not sure I should tell you yet, I add silently.